But the Duke did not seek the sovereign's approval and the marriage was never recognised.

Miss Fairbrother was ostracised by the Royal Family and never given the title the Duchess of Cambridge. Instead she became known by the nickname Mrs FitzGeorge.

There are claims that the Duke was actually reticent about the marriage. According to author and genealogist Anthony J Camp, the Duke was not correctly described in the marriage entry and did not use his normal signature.

Whatever his intentions, the Duke had a wandering eye and it was not long after he married that he took up with mistress Louisa Beauclerk.

She remained his lover for more than 30 years until her death and he once described her as "the idol of my life and my existence".

Like Prince William, this Duke of Cambridge joined the Army. He served in the Crimean War and was promoted to Commander-in-Chief in 1887.

There is an equestrian statue of him in the middle of London's Whitehall which William and Kate will be able to see from their carriage procession after the service.

The Duke was said to be a disciplinarian, who believed Army promotions should be based on social connections rather than ability. He died in 1904.

His father was also the Duke of Cambridge.

Prince Adolphus Frederick (1774-1850) was the 1st Duke of Cambridge and the seventh son of George III.

This Duke of Cambridge was a Chancellor of St Andrews University in Scotland where William and Kate met. He held the post from 1811 to 1814.

He was also Prince William's great-great-great-great grandfather.

The Duke's granddaughter was Mary of Teck, who became Queen Mary and was Elizabeth II's grandmother.

The Duke was described by his father as being "lively". He was a military man and a popular figure.

He was apparently very fond of interrupting church services by bellowing out "By all means" if the priest said "Let us pray".

He was also a great support of charities, literature and the sciences.

He married the glamorous German born Princess Augusta Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Cassel, who was Duchess of Cambridge - the last to hold the title before Miss Middleton takes on the name.

She was the longest-lived daughter in law of George III and outlived her husband by 39 years, dying in 1889 at the age of 91.

The Duke of Cambridge has been a royal title since the reign of Charles II.

The first Duke of Cambridge was a Stuart prince who only lived for a few months, followed by others who were styled with title but also died very young.

George, Elector of Hanover, also held the title and went on to become King George II.

He was the last English monarch to lead his troops into battle - at Dettingen in 1743.

The title - a popular name for pubs - will link William to the city the Cambridge where his father the Prince of Wales went to university.

The title Duke comes from the Latin "Dux" meaning "a leader".

It is the highest rank in British Peerage. The Queen is also the Duke of Lancaster, while the Prince of Wales is the Duke of Cornwall.